ANN ARBOR -- Turnovers were perhaps the one thing separating Michigan's defense from very good to great a year ago.

The Wolverines were off to a slow start in that area this season, but have started to pick up the pace over the past two weeks.

There was a fumble recovery against Oregon State, a forced fumble (not recovered, though) vs. UNLV and a pair of interceptions against the Rebels.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin have harped on turnovers all season, and throughout fall camp. And after three games, Harbaugh's hopeful a slow trickle begins to turn into a steady stream.

"It's kind of like the olive jar," Harbaugh said on his radio show Monday night. "We haven't gotten a lot of turnovers and it's like opening up a new jar of olives. You open it up, turn it over and you can't get one olive to come out. People know that. They're packed in there so tight, you can't get one to come out.

"But if you can just get one to come out, the rest come plopping out. That's what we're hoping for with these turnovers. We've gotten one, we've gotten two and now hopefully they come out in droves."

Michigan hosts No. 22 BYU (2-1) on Saturday (noon, ABC), and has another chance to pop a few more olives out of the jar.

The Cougars have lost four turnovers through three games so far this season.

More notes from Monday:

* Harbaugh said he was very pleased with the physicality of his defense in the win over UNLV, as Michigan kept the Rebels from crossing midfield until midway through the third quarter, and limited UNLV to just 235 yards on the day.

He was happy with the turnovers, excited about the play at the line of scrimmage.

But says Michigan still has to improve its tackling in space.

"We've got to tackle better, we're being more physical, but we're not tackling," Harbaugh said on his radio show. "We're not wrapping up like we should. We've got to aim for 'the crest of the ilium.

* During his weekly segment with WXYZ-TV's Brad Galli, Harbaugh talked again about having the chance to meet James Earl Jones over the offseason. The legendary actor and Michigan grad did the voice work for the team's pregame entrance video this season.

Jones was one of several stars Harbaugh had a chance to meet this summer.